Software Developer salary in Durham-Chapel Hill, NC
Software Developers in the Durham-Chapel Hill, NC metro area earn a median of $135,620 a year ($65.20 an hour), based on BLS data for 9,790 workers.
Pay ranges from $100,670 for the lowest-paid 10% to $209,410 for the top 10%. That is about the same as the national median of $135,980. Pay here is 1% higher than the North Carolina statewide median of $134,710. There are 28 software developers per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 2.6× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $148,390, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for software developers in Durham-Chapel Hill, NC
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $100,670 | $48.40 |
| 25th percentile | $128,290 | $61.68 |
| Median | $135,620 | $65.20 |
| 75th percentile | $168,720 | $81.12 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $209,410 | $100.68 |
| Average (mean) | $148,390 | $71.34 |
Half of software developers earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $11,301.67 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $5,650.83 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $5,216.15 |
| Weekly | $2,608.08 |
| Hourly | $65.20 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Software Developer salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC | $135,920 | 20,820 |
| Asheville, NC | $134,350 | 780 |
| Raleigh-Cary, NC | $132,770 | 12,580 |
| Rocky Mount, NC | $130,600 | 120 |
| Pinehurst-Southern Pines, NC | $130,240 | 200 |
| Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC | $129,090 | 7,160 |
| Burlington, NC | $127,570 | 270 |
| Greensboro-High Point, NC | $125,190 | 1,710 |
| Winston-Salem, NC | $124,130 | 1,050 |
| Wilmington, NC | $123,730 | 880 |
| Greenville, NC | $123,680 | 230 |
| Jacksonville, NC | $123,110 | 140 |
| Fayetteville, NC | $122,900 | 420 |
| Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC | $122,540 | 420 |
| Goldsboro, NC | $96,140 | 50 |
Highest-paying states for software developers
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| California | $174,410 |
| Washington | $166,540 |
| New York | $166,180 |
| Massachusetts | $165,210 |
| Oregon | $142,720 |
| New Hampshire | $139,720 |
| Maryland | $138,680 |
| Colorado | $138,390 |
| District of Columbia | $136,880 |
| Virginia | $136,460 |
See Software Developer pay in every state or the North Carolina statewide figures.
Related jobs in Durham-Chapel Hill, NC
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Computer Systems Analyst | $106,410 | $51.16 |
| Computer Occupations, All Other | $126,300 | $60.72 |
| Computer User Support Specialist | $71,750 | $34.50 |
| Network and Computer Systems Administrators | $110,640 | $53.19 |
| Computer Network Architect | $144,990 | $69.71 |
| Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers | $122,980 | $59.13 |
| Information Security Analyst | $129,670 | $62.34 |
| Database Architect | $141,770 | $68.16 |
| Web and Digital Interface Designers | $133,340 | $64.11 |
| Computer Network Support Specialist | $81,090 | $38.99 |
| Computer Programmer | $105,160 | $50.56 |
| Database Administrator | $117,950 | $56.71 |
| Web Developer | $96,880 | $46.58 |
| Computer and Information Research Scientists | $136,990 | $65.86 |
More: Computer and Mathematical Occupations · all salaries in Durham-Chapel Hill, NC
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 15-1252. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a software developer make in Durham-Chapel Hill, NC?
The median salary for software developers in the Durham-Chapel Hill, NC metro area is $135,620 a year, or $65.20 an hour. Pay ranges from $100,670 for the lowest-paid 10% to $209,410 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid software developers make in Durham-Chapel Hill, NC?
The top 10% of software developers in the Durham-Chapel Hill, NC metro area earn at least $209,410 a year. The top 25% earn $168,720 or more.
What is the starting pay for software developers in Durham-Chapel Hill, NC?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $100,670 a year, and a quarter of software developers earn $128,290 or less.
How many software developers work in Durham-Chapel Hill, NC?
About 9,790 software developers are employed in the Durham-Chapel Hill, NC metro area, not counting the self-employed.